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Family Syngnathidae - Pipefishes and seahorses

Order:

Syngnathiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)

No. of Genera:

No. of Species:

215

Environment:

Fresh: Yes Brackish: Yes Marine: Yes

Aquarium:

many

First Fossil Record:

lower Tertiary, lower Eocene Ref.: Berg, L.S..1958

Remark:

Mostly marine. Some in brackish and fresh water. Distribution: Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans (mostly in warm temperate to tropical). A series of bony rings encloses elongate body. Dorsal fin single; soft rays usually 15-60. Very small anal fin. Anal rays usually 2-6. Pectoral fin rays usually 10-23. Adults of some species may lack dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins. Pelvic fins lacking. Some without caudal fin. Caudal peduncle may be prehensile. Very small gill openings. Branchiostegal rays 1-3. Basisphenoid and supracleithrum lacking. Kidney unpaired (right side) and lacking glomerulus. About 60 cm maximum length. Some very colorful. Usually limited to shallow water. Feed on minute invertebrates sucked into a tubular snout. Males have a brood pouch in which the eggs are laid and where they are fertilized and incubated. A revision of the seahorses is underway (see Ref. 12238).

Etymology:

Greek, syn = with, together + Greek, gnathos = jaw ( Ref. 45335).

Division:

Marine

Reproductive guild:

bearers

Typical activity level:

normal

Main Ref.:

Nelson, J.S..1994

Coordinator:

Show species | Nominal species list for Syngnathidae | Identification keys | CAS specimen photos | References

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